Budget System Overclocking

[Mattd46612]

Sempron 2600+ 754
Asrock K8NF4G
1GB G.Skill 3200 ram
Rosewill case with PSU

Im looking to toss something together for my uncle, I dont need drives i just need case,psu,cpu,ram and that there is 250 bucks shipped and I think sounds half decent. I would rather have onboard vid to save money. Anyone have any thoughts? I know the PSU is crap but it should suffice.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

 

[Mattd46612]

haha knew that was coming... sorry screwed up.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Ok then. now that its fixed, im reviewing...

Lets see:

Change the PSU to a Fortron FSP300-60GLS I calculated that even after overclocked a system like that consumes 250 watts max. So a $40 PSU combined with the fact of 85% efficiency and active PFC makes it a great buy for your system.

Your current MOBO selection is good, although i would more recommend the Biostar TForce 6100

There is my 2c

 

[Mattd46612]

Trying to keep it right at $250 shipped, that would slam me up to almost 300. I would love to throw a sparkle or a fotron or even a thermaltake like mine but unless i can cut elsewhere I really cant. Really dont know where else I can save money, Id like to stay with 1GB ram. Maybe I just got the max for the money with what Im at now, the power supply has me shaky but it seems rosewill stuff isnt half bad.

 

[996GT2]

You can get 1GB Kingston HyperX Low Latency 2-3-2-6 DDR400 for $67 after rebate on Newegg

 

[customcoms]

Tiger and newegg have lots of deals on ram. you can basically get 1gb of value from a reputable manufacturer for under $70 shipped any day of the week now. Granted, its nothing spectacular but for a value board (not a DFI nForce4 Ultra-D that gags at you if you don't spend $125+ in ram), you'll be fine. Just run a divider and take that sempy sky high!

 

[stevty2889]

Just don't skimp on the power supply, unless you want him coming back to you when the problems start arrising, never never never skimp on the power supply. I did once, and it blew and took a $180 motherboard with it.

 

[Mattd46612]

The reviews seem solid and its going to be a pretty weak system. So I figured Id give it a shot. The system probably wont even use 200W.

 

[Zap]

Case/PSU... #1 is that you have a PSU with a 24 pin motherboard plug. That Rosewill case/PSU, I'm guessing it's the $22 one listed? That is NOT 24 pin, so do not get it.

I'd highly recommend the Biostar Tforce6100 board.

Zap's mini review

It's only $9 more than the ASRock board and it can overclock just about as well as the DFI boards. Also, it has "Smart Fan" settings that you can adjust in BIOS to reduce the CPU fan noise. I think that $9 will gain you a few hundred MHz worth of overclocking. BTW, the Biostar Geforce6100-M7 is NOT the same thing. It does have better overclocking than pretty much all other mATX Geforce6100 chipset based boards but still is a noticeable bit behind the Tforce6100 (I own both) and doesn't have "Smart Fan."

RAM... any will work and you have your choice of 2x512MB or single 1GB modules for under $70 shipped. BTW, avoid the cheap "AMD only" 1GB modules.

How about this $15 + $13 shipping SkyHawk case with 120mm exhaust fan and no PSU?

This Fortron 300W unit is $23 + $7 shipping and is 24 pin and dual rails (16A + 16A).

Sempron 2600+ is $74 shipped.

Biostar Tforce6100 is $74 shipped.

CPU $74
Mobo $74
RAM $70
PSU $30
Case $28

Total $276 shipped

Okay, that is $26 above your target price but is tenfold better because of:
- 120mm case exhaust fan (but may not come with one )
- Fortron PSU, guaranteed many times better than in that $22 Rosewill case plus has 24 pin that you NEED
- Motherboard will clock that 1.6GHz Sempron 2600+ to 2.4-2.5GHz, something that the ASRock will not get close to, if it can overclock at all.

My own Sempron 2600+ hit 2.52GHz Prime stable with some major voltage - needed because I had the older D0 core. If the new one is an E3 or E6 core, may be able to go higher on less voltage.

If you absolutely, absolutely need to shave cost, get the Biostar Geforce6100-M7 board. It was only able to hit 2.2GHz or so (forgot exact speed) with my same Sempron but that still puts it above the other boards except for the Tforce6100 and will cost the same as the ASRock. Your total would be $267 shipped price, only $17 above projected budget.

 

[inveterate]

wtf??,, No such thing as budget system OC.. Like u might as well get a low cost P4 set up.. will prob do better without overclocking "stress,, risk"

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: inveterate
wtf??,, No such thing as budget system OC..

Depending on your definition of "budget," that is incorrect.

How about this for "budget..." An Opteron 144 with Biostar Tforce6100-939. 2.7-3.0GHz stable overclock. Cost $130 for CPU, $70 for mobo.

Here's "budget..." Sempron 3300+ for $80 @2.75GHz, Biostar Tforce6100 board for $70.

Here's "budget..." Sempron 3100+ @2.25GHz+, ECS NFORCE3-A board for... $80 combined!!! Some have gotten 2.5GHz+ using clockgen on those combos.

Heck, your Winchester 3200+ CPU was on the "budget" end of things back in the day, why are you getting snobbish now?

 

[PingSpike]

Overclocking IS about budget systems. Overclocking is taking a cheap component and making it perform like a much more expensive one.

 

[Zap]

Well, some people take the most expensive parts and push them beyond what you can buy in the next year or two, but yeah there are others like myself who take the cheapest part and push them to near equialent of the most expensive part.

 

[furballi]

ECS NF3/Sempron 3100 for $80. Easy 2.25GHz overclock.

Antec Smartpower 350 2.0. It's a very good PSU that should deliver close to 300 watts at the 12V rails if you have one video card, one HDD, one optical drive, one floppy drive, and 1GB RAM. It's on sale at Fry's for $18 AR. Been testing this unit for the last two days. 12V rail is 12.10 to 12.21, regardless of load. Good stuff. 20+4 plug, PCI-E, SATA, and fan monitor plug. All 18 gauge wiring except for the fan sensor. Also runs cool and quiet.

Corsair Value Select RAM (2 x 512) at Fry's for around $55 AR, or 1 x 1GB now at Fry's for $55 AR.

There are many basic cases over the net for $30 shipping included.

Still have $50 left to buy a cheap $30 video card. Out-the-door cost under $230.